"They’ll end up going on to win it all" - Jamie Carragher names his favorites to win Champions League this season

Former Liverpool player-turned-pundit Jamie Carragher has tipped Real Madrid to win the UEFA Champions League this season. Despite a poor start in the competition, Carragher said Los Blancos will manage to go through the league phase to reach the knockout stages and will win the tournament.

Real Madrid are in the 17th position with six points after four games in the standings. They lost their last game 1-3 to AC Milan on Tuesday (November 5) at Santiago Bernabeu. It was their second defeat in the competition this season, after a shock 0-1 defeat to Lille.

Jamie Carragher reckoned that the 15-time champions will struggle in the league phase but will eventually lift the famous 'Big Ears' in May 2025 at the Allianz Arena. He said (via Metro):

''You know what Real Madrid are going to do with this new Champions League format. They’re going to sneak through that qualifying round by the skin of their teeth, and then they’ll end up going on to win it all. What a club."

In most seasons when Real Madrid won the Champions League, they were not at their best, especially in the group stages. It is in the knockout stages that Los Blancos have a reputation for excelling. Carlo Ancelotti’s men will face table toppers Liverpool in their next Champions League match at Anfield on 27 November.

Carlo Ancelotti said Real Madrid 'should be worried’ after 1-3 defeat to AC Milan in the Champions League

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said his team should be worried after they fell to a second consecutive defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday. Prior to the clash with AC Milan, Los Merengues were thrashed 4-0 by archrivals Barcelona in LaLiga on October 26.

Before the defeats to Barcelona and AC Milan, Real Madrid were on a fine run of form, winning eight out of their last 10 games across competitions (D1, L1). Their last match in the Champions League was a 5-2 victory over Borussia Dortmund (October 22).

After falling flat at home against Paulo Fonseca’s men, Ancelotti felt the performance was atypical of this side and gave a wake-up call to his players. He told Movistar (via ESPN):

"We should be worried because the team isn't playing well. We have to be more solid, more compact. We've conceded a lot of goals. It isn't about being patient or not, the reality is what you see on the pitch, which is that we're missing something."

He continued:

"Worry in these moments is normal. It will be a long night, but that's what we have to do, think, all of us, about improving things. We've conceded nine goals [in three games] and that's too many for a team which built its strength on solidity."

Real Madrid will turn their attention to LaLiga as they will take on Osasuna at home on Saturday (November 9).